Ely – Hereward Pub

This is another Stonegate pub in Ely and although it seems to be suffering from some poor reviews at the moment, I thought it only fair to try it for myself.

The bar was tidy and organised, and a staff member came over to serve me when she saw I was waiting. All very efficient and the staff member was friendly and engaging, so it felt a welcoming pub.

An offer that has limited availability during the week, but that’s a good ideal when the offer is on.

Unfortunately, there was just one real ale which was actually available, which was the Jenning’s Cumberland beer. It’s a golden ale which is middle of the road, but it was keenly priced and tasted well-kept.

The lunch offer was better advertised than in the Minister Tavern that I had visited just before, which is also Stonegate. Again, fairly priced and the real ale I had was discounted because of my CAMRA membership.

The interior is functional and clean, although there’s little of historic merit. I actually thought that this pub was better than some of the reviews suggested. I visited on a quiet Friday afternoon, but I got the impression that this was a much livelier venue in the evenings, which might explain some of the more negative reviews.

The service was warm and friendly, the tables were cleared down regularly and the atmosphere was welcoming and comfortable. The selection of real ales, down to just one, wasn’t great, but the staff member apologised for that so I assume there’s normally a wider choice. But, it’s a perfectly acceptable pub and worth visiting.